BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) Secretary Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), marking a historic moment as he becomes the youngest ever to hold this prestigious position at the age of 35.
The announcement was made on August 27, 2024, in Dubai, where Jay Shah will succeed Greg Barclay, who chose not to seek a third term.
Jay Shah, son of Home Minister Amit Shah, has been serving as the BCCI Honorary Secretary since October 2019 and the Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021 and will officially take over the ICC chairmanship on December 1, 2024.
Upon his election, Mr. Shah expressed his commitment to advancing cricket’s global reach and popularity. “I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” he stated.
The road ahead
Jay Shah’s election comes at a time when cricket is poised for significant growth, particularly with its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, an event Shah views as a “pivotal opportunity for the sport’s growth.”
Mr. Shah’s vision includes balancing the coexistence of multiple formats of the game, promoting advanced technologies in cricket, and introducing marquee events to new global markets. He emphasized the Olympic inclusion as a “significant inflection point,” confident that it would propel cricket into new territories and engage new audiences worldwide.
Jay Shah’s tenure at the BCCI witnessed the inception of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), advocating for pay parity and navigating the IPL through the complexities of the COVID-19 era.
However, his appointment also stirs discussions on the concentration of power, given India’s financial dominance in cricket, contributing over 75% of the ICC’s revenue.